Electric railway signal lantern



Dec. 24, 1929. J. o. HAZEL memo RAILWAY SIGNAL LAN'IERN Filed Dec, 15. I927 hwwmi'oz e1, 0. 1922203 I Game/m3 Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE JAMES OTTO HAZEL, OF ATCHISGN, KANSAS, ASSIGNOB TO JOHN LGNG, OF ATCHISON, KANSAS ELECTRIC RAILWAY SIGNAL LANTERN Application filed December 15, 1927.

The present invention is directed to improvements in electric railway signal lanterns.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a lantern for this purpose which is so constructed that the illuminating bulb and its battery will be supported at the lower end of the frame in order to prevent the lantern from being easily tilted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lantern for this purpose wherein the bulb will be located directly under the reflector in order that the light rays will be effectively reflected downwardly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lantern of this type having novel means for containing the battery, the means being such that the battery can be easily removed and a new one substituted therefor when necessary.

lVith these and other objects in view, this invention resides in the novel features of construction, formation, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more 29 fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 44 of Figure 1.

The lantern comprises a wire frame 1 35 which consists of vertical uprights 2 which are engaged with the ring 3 near the upper ends thereof, and it is to this ring that the lower ends of the handle 4 are secured. The extreme lower ends of the uprights 2 are provided with eyes 5 for engaging the split reinforcing ring 6. Secured to the top of the frame is a cover plate 7 and suitably connected under this plate is a conical reflector 8.

The uprights 2, preferably four in num- 45 her, are provided intermediate their ends and adjacent the lower ends thereof with straight poitions 9, and to each pair of which are secured the vertical flanges 10 of the guide plates 11, said guide plates being horizontally disposed and laterally spaced. Sup- Serial No. 240,238.

ported by the ring 6 is a bottom plate 12 which is provided with a longitudinal slot 13, said plate having a stop 14 fixed to one end thereof.

The sides of the plate 12 terminate in vertical flanges 13 which are alined with the flanges 10, and form in conjunction with the flanges 10 a holder 14. I

A spring arm 15 is provided and has one end fixed to the plate and has its other end provided with a lug 16 which is passable through an opening 17 formed in one side of the plate 12, the purpose of which will be later explained. The battery containerl8 comprises a casing 19 in one end of which is fired an insulating strip 20, and upon which is fixed a contact plate 21, said container being removably en aged in the holder. Upon the top of the container is a housing 22 which carries a socket 23 for the reception of the bulb 24, there being a conventional'form of switch 25 carried by the housing in order that the illumination of the bulb can be conveniently controlled. Leading from the switch to the plate 21 is a circuit wire 26, there being a circuit wire 27 leading from the socket contact 28 to the switch.

Removably mounted in the container 18 is a battery 29, the inner end of which is provided with spring contacts 30 and 31 which are engaged respectively with the plate 21 and a wall of the container in order that the circuit will be completed to illuminate the bulb when the switch is closed.

A closure plate 33 is engaged in one end of the container 18 and is so positioned that the lug 16 will move upwardly in order to hold the closure in place, and at which time the contact springs 30 and 31 will be properly engaged to complete the circuit.

It will be observed that the stop 14 will limit the inward sliding movement of the container in the holder, and is so arranged with respect to the lug 16 that the lug will lie at a point close to the closure 31 in order to hold the container against accidental disengagement. However, upon lowering the lug 16 by flexing the resilient arm the container and battery can be conveniently re moved when desired.

In order to facilitate the removal and replacement of the container a handle 32 is carried by one end thereof.

It will be thus seen that the bulb 24 will be so located as to be directly under the reflector 8, in order that the reflected rays Will be directed downwardly upon the ground. Further, by providing the slot 13 the battery container can be inverted in order that the bulb 24 will extend from the bottom of the plate 12 should it be desired, and at which time during the sliding of the container into place the bulb and housing 22' can convenient= ly passes between the spaced ends of the ring 6 in order that said housing and bulb will be disposed within the slot.

While I have illustrated a bulb upon one side only of the container, it will be of course understood that if desired, bulbs may be placed upon the other sides in order that colored bulbs, such as red and green may be used.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

A lantern of the class described comprising a frame including vertical uprights, a split ring secured to the lower ends of the uprights, spaced guide plates fixed intermediate the ends of the uprights, a bottom plate supported by the ring and having a longitudinal slot formed therein, one end of which opens between the terminals of the ring, a battery container slidably engaged between the guide plates and bottom plate, a stop carried by the bottom plate, a spring arm connected with the bottom plate and having a lug carried thereby for engagement with one end of the container when the other endengages the stop, and a reflector supported by the upper ends of the uprights.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES OTTO HAZEL. [Ls] 

